— This is my flat, my mother and family were against me kicking out my pregnant sister
You did gift me the flat
— Don’t you understand? This is family! How can you treat your own niece like that? She’s pregnant and has nowhere to go!
Emma sat in the kitchen, gripping her phone. Her mum’s voice came through, both pleading and accusing at the same time. Typical mum — even when asking for a favour, she managed to guilt-trip her.
— Mum, I don’t mind helping, but… — Emma hesitated, searching for words. — Bella has been living with me for eight months. Eight! Remember how Aunt Valerie said “a couple of weeks until she finds a job”?
— So what? Times are hard now, finding a job…
— She isn’t even looking! — Emma felt a wave of irritation rising inside her. — Yesterday, she spent the whole day in the bath doing those hair masks. Then watched a TV series. Then…
— Emma dear, she’s expecting…
— She found out a month ago! What stopped her before?
A heavy pause hung on the line. Emma heard her mum sigh heavily. That trademark sigh which always meant: “What a heartless daughter I raised.”
— Mum, this is my flat. Remember you and dad bought Aunt Valerie’s share specifically for me?
— Technically, — her mum’s voice grew sterner, — it’s still our flat. We just allowed you to live there.
Emma closed her eyes. Here we go. Again.
— I thought it was a gift. For graduating uni.
— Of course, a gift! But you do understand that in a family, one must…
— Must what? — Emma interrupted. — Endure Bella eating my food, using my cosmetics, and bringing her boyfriend over when I’m not home? By the way, that’s the very same one she’s now having a baby by.
— Emma! — her mum’s voice turned steely. — Aunt Valerie has done so much for us! When your dad was ill, who was there to help? Who looked after you when I was off working two jobs?
Emma sighed. She’d heard this story a hundred times. A debt to Aunt Valerie which, apparently, could never be paid in full.
— Mum, I’m grateful to Aunt Valerie, truly. But that doesn’t mean I should…
— Aunt Valerie called yesterday, — her mum interrupted again. — She was crying. Says you’re stressing Bella out. Picking on every little thing.
Emma snorted.
— Little things? She took my new jumper without asking and spilt juice on it! Then she said, “Oh, you won’t mind, we’re family.” And didn’t even apologise!
— Oh, Emma, it’s just a jumper…
— It’s not about the jumper! — Emma felt a lump forming in her throat. — It’s about respect. Personal boundaries. Coming home and feeling like a guest in my own flat.
Another pause on the line. Then her mum spoke quietly but firmly:
— You know, your granny would be very upset hearing you talk like that. For her, family was…
— Don’t bring Gran into this, — Emma cut her off. — Don’t bring her up every time you want to convince me of something.
— But it’s true! This flat is your grandmother’s legacy. She wanted…
— Wanted what? For me to live with Bella forever? To endure her whims? To…
The phone beeped — an incoming call. Emma glanced at the screen: Aunt Valerie. Of course.
— Mum, it’s Aunt calling. She probably wants to tell me personally what a bad sister I am.
— Take the call, Emma. Talk to her properly.
— Fine, — Emma sighed. — I’ll call you back later.
She switched to her aunt’s call, mentally preparing for another round of blame.
— Hello, Aunt Valerie.
— Emma, dear! — her aunt’s voice was exaggeratedly cheerful. — How are you, love?
“Love.” Emma grimaced. Aunt Valerie only called her that when she was about to ask for something.
— I’m fine, — she replied dryly.
— Bella says you’re having some… misunderstandings?
Emma rolled her eyes. Misunderstandings. Sure.
— Aunt Valerie, when you and Mum suggested Bella live with me, it was supposed to be for a few weeks. A month at most.
— Oh, why count the days like an accountant! — her aunt laughed, but there was irritation in her voice. — Family doesn’t act like that.
— And how does family act? — Emma felt anger bubbling inside. — Coming over uninvited? Taking things without permission? Bringing friends over when I’m not at home?
— Emma, now, Bella is just open, she’s used to…
— You know what else she’s used to? Having others make decisions for her. Mum and Dad bought Aunt Valerie’s share of the flat so I could live there. It was a gift to me.
— Well, not exactly, — her aunt’s voice cooled. — It’s your grandmother’s flat. A shared inheritance. Your mum and I just agreed…
— Agreed that you’d sell your share to my parents, — Emma said firmly. — And they paid for it. The full market value.
— Money, money! — her aunt’s voice grew hysterical. — It’s always about money! Have you thought about Bella’s situation? Where else can she go? The streets?
— She has a boyfriend. The father, remember.
— He’s irresponsible, no place of his own! He left as soon as he heard about the pregnancy.
“Surprise, surprise,” Emma thought, but said aloud:
— Aunt Valerie, you have a three-bedroom house. You and Uncle Mike live there alone. Why can’t Bella stay with you?
Silence. Emma could almost feel her aunt choosing her words carefully.
— It’s… inconvenient. Uncle Mike works from home, he needs peace and quiet. Besides, you and Bella have always got on well. You’ve grown up like sisters. When she has the baby, it’ll be a great experience for you, looking after a little one.
“Like sisters.” Emma smiled bitterly. Bella had always been the one getting away with everything. Sweet, carefree Bella who “just doesn’t think about the consequences.” While Emma was “responsible,” “sensible,” “mature beyond her years.” The one who must give way, understand, forgive.
— Aunt Valerie, I can’t do this anymore. I’ll talk to Bella today. She needs to find another place to live.
— What?! — her aunt’s voice rose to a shrill pitch. — You can’t! She’s pregnant! That’s stress! Do you want her to lose the baby?!
Emma held back from snapping. There it was. The ultimate weapon. If guilt-tripping with “family values” didn’t work, you could always accuse someone of potentially harming the child.
— I’m not kicking her out onto the street right now. I’m giving her time to…
— I’m calling your mum! — her aunt interrupted. — This is just… it’s just outrageous! After all we’ve done for you.
The line went dead. Emma slowly set the phone on the table. Her hands were shaking.
The front door banged. The sound of heels clicking along the hallway.
— Emma! — Bella’s voice was sickly sweet. — Are you home? Can you believe I ran into Katie, you remember her from school? She’s got married, guess who? Some rich IT guy. Showed me the ring, almost blinded me!
Bella breezed into the kitchen. Tanned, with a fresh manicure, expensive jeans. No sign of a pregnant woman in a tough spot.
— Listen, I was thinking… — Bella plonked herself down on the chair opposite Emma. — Maybe we should rearrange the furniture? I think the couch would look nicer by the window. And when the baby comes, we’ll need to set up a nursery corner…
Emma watched her, feeling something snap inside. The last thread of patience.
— Bella, we need to talk.
— Oh, not now, please? — Bella waved a hand. — My head’s killing me. These pregnancy hormones are awful! I better lie down.
She got up, heading out of the kitchen.
— Bella, — Emma raised her voice. — You need to move out.
Bella froze in the doorway. Turned slowly.
— What?
— You need to move out, — Emma repeated, feeling strangely calm. — I’ll give you a month to find somewhere else.
Bella stared at her in utter disbelief, as if Emma had suddenly started speaking Mandarin.
— You’re joking, right? — she finally forced out. — This is a joke?
— No. I’m completely serious.
Bella’s face twisted.
— You… you can’t! This is Gran’s flat! I’ve as much right to live here as you do!
— No, Bella. My parents bought Aunt Valerie’s share. Legally, it’s their property.
— I don’t care about legally! — Bella raised her voice. — We’re family! Don’t you understand? I’m pregnant! I’ve nowhere to go!
— You have parents. You have the child’s father. You even have friends.
— I’m calling Mum! — Bella snapped the phone from her pocket. — She’ll explain everything to you!
— Don’t bother, — Emma shook her head. — She’s already called. So has Mum.
— And?
— And nothing. My decision is final.
Bella glared at her, pure anger etched on her face.
— So this is it? You’re throwing your pregnant sister onto the streets? Just wait till Mum and Aunt Irene deal with this. You’ll regret it!
She turned on her heel and rushed out of the kitchen. A minute later, the front door slammed.
Emma sat, staring out the window. Oddly, instead of the expected guilt, she felt only relief. And exhaustion. Endless fatigue from this game of “family values,” where values somehow always seemed one-sided.
Her phone buzzed. A message from her mum: “Aunt Valerie’s hysterical. What have you done?”
Emma didn’t reply. Instead, she opened her browser and typed: “London flat rentals.”
Three months later, Emma was sitting in a café on Oxford Street, watching the rain splatter against the window. Across from her sat David — her boyfriend, whom she’d met back in London but who had moved there six months earlier.
— So, any regrets? — he asked, stirring his coffee.
Emma shook her head.
— No. I only regret not doing this sooner.
Her phone buzzed again. A call from her dad.
— Hi, Dad.
— Hi, love, — her dad’s voice held an unusual gravity. — I’ve got news.
— What kind of news?
— We’ve sold the flat.
Emma froze.
— Gran’s flat? But what about…
— Bella’s moved back with her parents, — her dad chuckled. — After you left, she tried to stay on, but…Anyway, Mum and I decided enough’s enough. We sold it. We’re sending the money to you.
— What? — Emma couldn’t believe her ears. — To me?
— To you, — her dad’s voice held a smile. — It was a gift for you, remember? For finishing university. We just… got a bit muddled. Gave in to pressure. We’re sorry.
Emma felt tears welling up.
— Dad, I don’t know what to say…
— Don’t say anything. Just be happy. And… we’re proud of you. For standing up for yourself. Even when we didn’t support you.
After the call, Emma sat quietly, looking out the window.
— What happened? — David asked, placing his hand over hers.
— I think I’ve just grown up, — Emma replied softly. — Really grown up.
Outside, the rain washed away the traces of the past, opening a fresh new page for her life. A life where she chose who to let into her home and her heart.
